Anora and her 4-year-old sister, Anya, haven’t seen their father, US Army Captain Donald Moyer, since this summer.

“It’s been like forever,” said Anora.

“What does he do over there?” asked Mynatt.

“He’s trying to fight off the bad guys,” replied Anora.

At the school’s Christmas program Friday, the principal took time to thank veterans for their service.

Anora and Anya knew their dad tried to make it home for Christmas.

But what the little girls didn’t know was that their dad did make it.

While all the other veterans were standing on stage, their dad was in a backroom, just feet away.

“I haven’t seen my girls in five-and-half months. To be able to just go out there and give them a hug and see them for the first time is an incredible feeling. I couldn’t sleep last night,” said Captain Moyer.

Moyer’s actually been home since Tuesday, hiding out to surprise his little girls.

“I could hear them getting ready for school. I could hear them moving about. It was the hardest part in the world not to pop out there and grab them up,” said Moyer.

Now the dad doesn’t have to wait any longer.

“Come here babies, come here. I’ve missed you so much,” said Moyer as he hugged the girls for the first time in a long time.

“This is something they can look back on years down the road. They will always have that visualization, here’s daddy,” said Moyer.

Like most kids, Anora and Anya still want movies under the tree Christmas morning, but they say the best gift is already here.

“My daddy’s home!” exclaimed Anora.

Captain Moyer will spend the next two weeks with his family before returning to Afghanistan for another six months. This is his second tour overseas.

Janell Grizzard

Thank u Capt. for allowing me to be a part of this very special homecoming!! It is truly a high point in my career as an educator. I know the hiding was hard, but the memories of this special day make it worth it! God Bless your family and thank u from the bottom of my heart for your service to our country.